In this bulletin:
1. NEW|CALE — Pro-France Virginie Ruffenach elected New Caledonia Congress president
2. PACIFIC — NZ must consider cost of joining Pacific defence alliance
3. FIJI — Former coup leader re-enters Fiji political debate with challenge to immunity and national identity
4. SAMOA — Samoa reaffirms commitment to a peaceful Pacific following China’s missile launch
5. PNG — Police brace for firearms threat in 2027 elections
6. PACIFIC — Vanuatu and PNG to sign landmark police cooperation agreement
7. FIJI — Fiji’s Ministry defends state custodianship of minerals
8. FIJI — HIV care software to improve patient monitoring
9. PACNEWS BIZ — Fiji Navy launches Maritime Security Operation
10. PACNEWS BIZ — Digitisation project to strengthen workplace safety
11. PACNEWS IN FOCUS — Polygyny weakens female voices in PNG
12. PACNEWS DIGEST — Emerging Pacific leaders tackling the Triple Planetary Crisis
13. PACNEWS DIGEST — Building the Foundations for Nauru’s Next Chapter
14. PACNEWS DIGEST — Nominations open for Pacific Meteorological Council Awards 2026
15. PACNEWS DIGEST — The Nurse Who Survived and Went Back to Fight
NEW|CALE – POLITICS: RNZ PACIFIC PACNEWS 3: Fri 10 Jul 2026
Pro-France Virginie Ruffenach elected New Caledonia Congress president
NOUMEA, 10 JULY 2026 (RNZ PACIFIC) — Pro-France Virginie Ruffenach has been elected as the new New Caledonia Congress president under a “governance” coalition struck on Thursday between the pro-France bloc and “kingmakers” Eveil Océanien party.
During a vote that followed New Caledonia’s provincial elections held on 28 June, Ruffenach secured 28 of the 54 votes in the French Pacific territory’s territorial assembly.
Her opponent, Dominique Fochi, supported by the pro-independence bloc “Kanaky for All”, received 26 votes.
The pro-France bloc, consisting of Rassemblement, Les Loyalistes and Génération NC, for a total of 24 seats in the House, announced a governance deal had been struck with Eveil Océanien – which has four seats – to form a majority.
Ruffenach takes over from Veylma Falaeo (from Eveil Océanien), who had held the presidency since 2024 and had become the first woman to hold this position after being elected in August 2024.
In her first speech following her election, the Ruffenach stressed she intended to make New Caledonia’s Congress a place for “exchange” and “dignified debates”.
“[New Caledonians] are expecting something else than struggles … They expect mutual respect and efficiency”, she said.
“They expect us to be worthy of the history we are writing together. We have inherited an exceptional land as well as a complex history. We cannot change the past, but we have the responsibility to build the future”.
“I wish we can find the courage to overcome what is opposing us to preserve what brings us together. And this is our attachment to New Caledonia, our will to serve its inhabitants and our duty to serve future generations”.
In a special address to the pro-independence camp, she said they can be assured of “all my consideration”.
“I have the utmost respect for those who hold different beliefs than mine and I am mindful that everyone should express themselves freely. Our beliefs differ deeply on New Caledonia’s political future, this is a reality. But this reality doesn’t prevent us from respecting each other, listen to each other and work together when the general interest demands it”.
She said some of her main priorities would be to “rebuild our economic tools, mend the social fabric, work to reduce inequalities and restore confidence”.
New Caledonia’s Congress, following the French territory’s provincial elections, is now made up of 5 groups. They include the Kanaky NC (19 seats, pro-independence), Les Loyalistes (18, pro-France), Rassemblement (6 seats, pro-France), Union Nationale pour l’Indépendance (UNI, 7 seats, pro-independence) and Eveil Océanien (4 seats).
Votes were continuing on Friday in New Caledonia’s Congress inaugural session to elect the institution’s bureau, including vice-presidents.
Debates are expected to continue on Saturday for the same administrative reasons and to elect the Congress’s various committees.
Under the “governance” agreement struck this week between the pro-France camp and Eveil Océanien, it is planned that Eveil Océanien leader Milakulo Tukumuli will be appointed as New Caledonia’s next “collegial” government President.
The coalition agreement, however, does not include long-term political projects such as New Caledonia’s institutional future, which is to be addressed during talks between New Caledonia’s political parties and the French government, at a date yet to be determined…. PACNEWS
PAC – DIPLOMACY/POLITICS: RNZ PACIFIC PACNEWS 3: Fri 10 Jul 2026
NZ must consider cost of joining Pacific defence alliance
WELLINGTON, 10 JULY 2026 (RNZ PACIFIC) — A geopolitics expert says before New Zealand asks to join a defence alliance with Australia and Fiji, it must first consider if it can afford to.
The government announced on Thursday that it was exploring membership of the Ocean of Peace Alliance, which was signed in Fiji on Monday.
Associate Professor Anna Powles, from Massey University’s Centre of Defence and Security, said New Zealand needs to have the capability and resources to defend alliance partners if it ever comes to it.
“Australia is a much larger economy, larger military, et cetera,” Powles said. “The key question here for New Zealand will be how it’s going to contribute to the alliance both materially and in other ways, and that costs money.”
She said one benefit of joining the alliance would be to ensure New Zealand remains integrated in Pacific regional security, particularly if the alliance’s membership increased.
Pacific nations with militaries like Papua New Guinea and Tonga could join the alliance if its signatories agreed.
“If New Zealand does join, it would certainly help to shape a future direction of this alliance into becoming a potentially expandable Pacific-centred security alliance, rather than simply another bilateral defence arrangement.
“It would also give New Zealand a voice in deciding the shape of that future alliance.”
On Thursday, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said he disagreed with the claim by China’s embassy in Fiji that the countries were engaging in “geopolitical rivalry”.
Powles said there would likely be “diplomatic pushback” from China, and that it would see the alliance as a “form of strategic entitlement”.
But she said New Zealand’s membership would strengthen its relationships with Australia and Fiji at a time of heightened insecurity within the Pacific and around the world…. PACNEWS
FIJI – POLITICS: RNZ PACIFIC PACNEWS 3: Fri 10 Jul 2026
Former coup leader re-enters Fiji political debate with challenge to immunity and national identity
SUVA, 10 JULY 2026 (RNZ PACIFIC) — George Speight – a former coup frontman in Fiji – is calling on the perpetrators of the country’s past political upheavals to confess.
The ex-convict also described the idea of a common identity for the country’s citizens as “flawed” and said iTaukei (indigenous) views must not be ignored.
Speight made the comments in a submission to Fiji’s Constitutional Review Commission this week, after spending 24 years in a maximum-security jail for treason following the racist 2000 coup.
During his submission to the government-backed panel on Thursday, he slammed the 2013 Constitution and said the immunity provision should be removed.
“The clause is unfair… If you want redemption, you have to confess,” he said, adding that Fiji could not achieve genuine reconciliation without first acknowledging past wrongdoing.
Quoting from Proverbs, he said those who admitted their crimes would find mercy, while those who tried to hide would never prosper.
“I have served my time and I don’t feel any malice towards anyone, ” he said.
The sweeping immunity provisions have protected those involved in past military and political coups from criminal prosecution and civil liability.
Fiji has been rocked by four coups since gaining independence in 1970. The first two, in May and September 1987, were led by then-military lieutenant Sitiveni Rabuka, who is the current prime minister.
In 1999, Mahendra Chaudhry was sworn in as the country’s first Indo-Fijian prime minister, but the Labour Party leader’s election stoked racial tension in Fiji.
A year later, Speight led rebel soldiers from the military’s Counter-Revolutionary Warfare (CRW) Unit in an armed takeover of the then-coalition government. Chaudhry and his government were held hostage for 56 days.
The failed businessman pleaded guilty to treason after the unsuccessful coup and received the death penalty, which was later commuted to life imprisonment. However, he was granted a presidential pardon and released from prison on 19 September 2024.
Speight condemned the concept of a common name for the people, an issue that has sparked widespread debate in Fiji.
In April, the Great Council of Chiefs (GCC), the apex indigenous body in Fiji, told the Commission that the term “Fijian” should be exclusively reserved for the iTaukei (indigenous) population.
The GCC’s proposal prompted a backlash from political parties, civil society groups and human rights organisations across the country.
Chaudhry, still the Fiji Labour Party leader, told Pacific Waves at the time that the GCC’s call was “racially divisive”.
“We [the Labour Party] are opposed to that idea and we’ve made it very clear that there can be only one nationality in the nation,” the veteran politician said.
However, Speight told the Commission the idea was fundamentally wrong.
“I understand the principle behind it, I understand the reasoning behind it, but it’s flawed. It makes people second-guess something so special and so unique and God-given, their ethnic identity, unless we fix the justice element,” he said.
“All of the different ethnic groups in our country can’t live together very long, because it’s an unfair society.”
“The Bill of Rights is great, it covers everybody, no problem. But each ethnic group has its desire to continue with its uniqueness, and it must be encouraged, but not at the expense of the greater good,” he said.
Speight also told the CRC that iTaukei views, including those of the iTaukei Land Trust Board, should not be ignored.
“Those voices have to be heard, the process of hearing those voices and accommodating the issues brought up must never and forever going forward be labelled as racist anymore because they’re not, with respect.”
“Because iTaukei, when they get up and speak, it has been a common practice to label it all as racist, and that’s not the case. No one should feel threatened, no one should feel edited, no one should feel uncertain, because level heads will prevail,” Speight said.
“Those that push the agenda that iTaukei issues are not good for the future of this country and should not be addressed specifically, I ask that they reconsider and work together with the iTaukei community.”
Speight also told the Commission that although the government-appointed Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) was a “necessary arm of the process of moving forward”, he had chosen not to appear before it.
“I just feel that it does not have the teeth or the mandate to go all the way to actually fix things… until [the immunity clause is removed], truth and reconciliation in my mind is premature,” he said.
“I’m grateful to be here, grateful for the opportunity of the good lord in heaven, and I’m grateful to the government today, that saw fit to release me.”
The Rabuka-led coalition government wants to amend the 2013 Constitution before the upcoming general elections, having set up the independent commission in March to consult widely on the issue…. PACNEWS
SAMOA – DEFENCE/SECURITY: TALAMUA ONLINE PACNEWS 3: Fri 10 Jul 2026
Samoa reaffirms commitment to a peaceful Pacific following China’s missile launch
APIA, 10 JULY 2026 (TALAMUA ONLINE) — The Government of Samoa has reaffirmed its commitment to regional peace, security and international cooperation following China’s launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile into the Pacific Ocean on 6 July 2026.
In an official statement, the Government acknowledged that it was informed of the missile launch through diplomatic channels after the event.
According to the explanation provided by China, the launch was conducted in accordance with international law, was not directed at any specific country, and formed part of China’s routine defence training and capability requirements.
While recognising its longstanding and positive relationship with China, the Samoan Government said the incident highlights the importance of timely, transparent and considered communication on activities that have implications for regional peace and security.
The Government noted that China remains an important bilateral partner of Samoa and a dialogue partner of the Pacific Islands Forum.
At the same time, Samoa stressed that developments affecting the Pacific region should be approached in a manner that respects the interests and security of Pacific Island countries.
Reaffirming its foreign policy principles, the Government emphasised its continued commitment to the Ocean of Peace Declaration and the South Pacific Nuclear Free Zone Treaty, describing them as foundations of the Blue Pacific vision built on peace, stability, mutual respect, and the sovereignty and security of all Pacific peoples.
The statement also underscored that the Pacific Ocean should not become an arena for strategic competition between major powers.
The Government said the region should remain a place of unity, dialogue and the peaceful resolution of disputes.
The Government reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining strong friendships with all international partners while continuing to promote regional stability, constructive engagement and peaceful cooperation with all nations.
The statement reflects Samoa’s long-standing diplomatic approach of supporting regional security and international cooperation while maintaining positive and respectful relations with all of its development and strategic partners…. PACNEWS
PNG – ELECTION/ SECURITY: NBC PNG PACNEWS 3: Fri 10 Jul 2026
Police brace for firearms threat in 2027 elections
PORT MORESBY, 10 JULY 2026 (NBC PNG) — Police Commissioner David Manning says Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary is anticipating the presence of illegal firearms during the upcoming national election, despite ongoing amnesty programmes in parts of Highlands region.
Manning said weapons remain in circulation in volatile provinces including Enga, Hela, and parts of Southern Highlands, posing one of the biggest challenges to election security.
He said firearms are often used to incite violence, disrupt polling, and interfere with ballot box movements.
“The biggest enabler for disrupting national elections has always been the use of illegal firearms,” Manning said. “A successful election does not depend entirely on the RPNGC and Electoral Commission, it also depends on community participation in delivering a safe election.”
He said police are prepared to confront these risks, with operations designed to detect, deter, and neutralise offenders before they can disrupt the democratic process.
The Police Commissioner also called on communities in volatile provinces to work with police to ensure safety.
Meanwhile, the Constabulary is holding a weeklong planning meeting to prepare for the 2027 national election, where strategies to neutralise firearms and other security threats are being discussed…. PACNEWS
PAC – SECURITY: VANUATU DAILY POST PACNEWS 3: Fri 10 Jul 2026
Vanuatu and PNG to sign landmark police cooperation agreement
PORT VILA, 10 JULY 2026 (VANUATU DAILY POST) — Vanuatu and Papua New Guinea (PNG) are expected to strengthen their long-standing security partnership today with the signing of a bilateral Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on policing cooperation.
The agreement follows an official visit by PNG’s Minister for Police, Sir John Pundari, who arrived in Vanuatu with a 10-member delegation, including Police Commissioner David Manning, for high-level discussions with the Government.
The delegation paid a courtesy call on Minister of Internal Affairs and Police, Andrew Solomon Napuat, ahead of the formal signing ceremony.
Minister Napuat said the visit marked the first bilateral meeting between the two police ministers and followed an invitation extended by the Vanuatu Government to further strengthen policing and security cooperation between the two Melanesian nations.
He said the proposed MOU had already received approval from Vanuatu’s National Security Council and the Council of Ministers (COM), paving the way for its signing by both governments.
“The purpose of this bilateral meeting is to formalise an MOU that will strengthen police cooperation between Vanuatu and Papua New Guinea,” Minister Napuat said.
Under the agreement, the Vanuatu Police Force (VPF) and the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary will work more closely in areas of policing, security cooperation, capacity building and operational collaboration.
Minister Napuat said police commissioners from both countries would finalise the operational arrangements of the agreement to ensure effective implementation once the MOU is signed.
He described the agreement as another important step in strengthening Melanesian cooperation.
“We share one Melanesia and one Blue Pacific. We want to continue encouraging stronger cooperation between our countries,” he said.
The agreement will initially run for two years, after which both governments will review its implementation and consider amendments to ensure it continues to address emerging security priorities and operational needs.
“The two-year period allows both countries to assess the progress of the partnership and make any necessary improvements based on the challenges and priorities that arise,” Minister Napuat said.
He said the relationship between PNG and Vanuatu dates back to the period before both nations gained independence and that the new agreement reflects the strong historical ties between the two countries.
Minister Napuat also revealed that Vanuatu is pursuing similar policing cooperation agreements with other Melanesian countries.
He said discussions had recently taken place with the Solomon Islands Minister responsible for Police, with both governments agreeing in principle to sign a similar MOU between their respective police forces.
Negotiations are also progressing with Fiji, where both governments have already provided the necessary clearances and are now completing the remaining administrative processes before an agreement can be signed.
Beyond policing, Minister Napuat said Vanuatu is also seeking to expand cooperation with Melanesian partners in areas including immigration and other government sectors.
He added that discussions are continuing between the Port Vila City Council (PVCC) and Port Moresby City Council under an existing sister-city arrangement, with both cities exploring opportunities for greater collaboration following talks held during Vanuatu’s visit to PNG earlier this year.
Minister Napuat said strengthening partnerships across Melanesia remains a priority for the Government as it seeks to reinforce traditional ties and regional cooperation across multiple sectors…. PACNEWS
FIJI – POLITICS: FBC NEWS PACNEWS 3: Fri 10 Jul 2026
Fiji’s Ministry defends state custodianship of minerals
SUVA, 10 JULY 2026 (FBC NEWS) — Fiji’s Ministry of Lands and Mineral Resources has defended the state’s role as custodian of Fiji’s mineral wealth, describing it as a matter of public trust, equity, and national development.
In its submission to the Constitution Review Commission, Minister Filimoni Vosarogo argued that minerals should remain under state ownership to ensure benefits are distributed fairly across the population, rather than accruing only to landowners where resources are found.
The Ministry stressed that state ownership allows for stronger regulation, environmental safeguards, and equitable sharing of revenue through royalties and taxes.
“We are in a race, Chairman, for critical minerals. This is not merely about economics. It’s about national security, defence, and energy transition. The state must secure its own supply and must secure its own supply chains. By retaining ownership, the state retains a stake in strategic projects, ensuring that national interests are protected even when foreign expertise and capital are welcomed.”
CRC Chair Sevuloni Valenitabua acknowledged that mineral ownership has been an ongoing national debate and urged the Minister to reaffirm his stance.
“Now this afternoon, we have heard submissions from you in relation to the philosophical aspect of that issue, the issue of ownership of mineral resources. It has given us another aspect of the ownership of minerals, particularly on how it has been suggested to us that the state has these minerals as a custodian rather than give them to the landowners, where the minerals might be abused and then taken out of control. I hope that is the correct interpretation of what you’ve been telling us. If you want to correct me, you’d better correct me now.”
Vosarogo further explained that state ownership ensures economic rents and windfall profits are captured through royalties, taxes, and equity participation, which then fund public services such as schools, hospitals, and infrastructure.
“When the state holds the title, it can capture the economic rent, the windfall profits through royalty, taxes, and equity participation. This revenue becomes the lifeblood of public services, our schools, our hospitals, our infrastructure, and defines a functioning society. Furthermore, think about the balance sheet of the nation. If the state owns its mineral wealth, that wealth can be counted as a national asset.”
While acknowledging calls from landowning units for direct ownership of minerals, the Ministry maintained that custodianship by the state is essential to safeguard Fiji’s long-term interests and uphold the principle that natural wealth belongs to all Fijians…. PACNEWS
FIJI – HEALTH/HIV: FBC NEWS PACNEWS 3: Fri 10 Jul 2026
HIV care software to improve patient monitoring
SUVA, 10 JULY 2026 (FBC NEWS) — Fiji’s patient information system is set to improve after the launch of the HIV module, a digital software that securely monitors HIV patient information.
Minister for Health Atonio Lalabalavu says the module will replace manual record keeping processes and address inconsistencies with reporting timelines and information security.
“This digital solution dramatically enhances how health information is captured, managed and used, keeping patient dignity, privacy and absolute confidentiality at the very heart of our clinical approach.”
Lalabalavu says health care workers can quickly access clinical data and make patient follow-ups to efficiently monitor patient progress.
“Integration with relevant health information systems includes vital laboratory data, allows for faster clinical decision-making, better programme management and more efficient patient follow-up.”
He adds that the software will protect sensitive patient data and uphold the strict standards of confidentiality.
Medical Officer in Charge at the Sexual and Reproductive Health Clinic, Central Dr Dashika Balak says the software will help healthcare workers in monitoring the patient’s journey from diagnosis to treatment.
“For the first time, we will be able to see the cascade that is actually in front of us. That is the patient in close to real time and intervene where the patient is slipping away from us, not months later when it appears in an annual report, but while we can still bring them back.”
The module features advanced security components that also include patient history, treatments, medication and scheduled medical appointments…. PACNEWS
PACNEWS BIZ
FIJI – MARITIME SECURITY: FIJI TV PACNEWS BIZ: Fri 10 Jul 2026
Fiji Navy launches Maritime Security Operation
SUVA, 10 JULY 2026 (FIJI TV) — The Republic of Fiji Navy has launched a large-scale maritime security mission aimed at strengthening surveillance and response capabilities across the country’s waters.
Operation Yadra Matua, which began earlier this week, involves multiple Navy vessels, two aircraft and support from the Intelligence Fusion Cell at the Vuvale Maritime Essential Services Centre.
More than 80 personnel have been deployed across Fiji’s maritime domain as part of the coordinated operation.
The exercise builds on lessons learned during Exercise Limasagavulu 2025 and is designed to enhance the Navy’s ability to carry out coordinated maritime security operations using real-time intelligence, reliable communications and rapid operational response.
Authorities said the operation is testing every stage of the maritime security process, including intelligence collection, information sharing, deployment of assets, vessel interception, boarding procedures and the verification of vessels and other contacts of interest.
Since the operation commenced, Navy teams have carried out more than 49 vessel boardings, detected several breaches and verified numerous contacts, including vessels identified as being of interest.
Operation Yadra Matua remains ongoing as security personnel continue monitoring Fiji’s maritime borders…. PACNEWS
FIJI – DIGITISATION: FIJILIVE PACNEWS BIZ: Fri 10 Jul 2026
Digitisation project to strengthen workplace safety
SUVA, 10 JULY 2026 (FIJILIVE) — Fiji’s workplace safety and workers compensation services are set to become faster, more efficient and transparent through a new digitalisation project aimed at modernising how occupational health and safety matters are managed.
The Ministry of Employment, Productivity and Workplace Relations is working with Toppan Ecquaria Limited (Singapore) to advance the Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) and Workers Compensation Digitalisation Project, which will replace manual, paper-based processes with improved digital systems.
Permanent Secretary, Jone Maritino Nemani met with Toppan Ecquaria Limited Managing Director Chong Ser Wah to discuss the project and its role in strengthening service delivery, improving workplace safety and supporting Fiji’s digital transformation efforts.
Once implemented, the new system will allow faster case registration, compensation claims processing and compliance reporting, helping reduce delays and improve support for workers and employers.
A key feature will be real-time data collection and reporting, enabling the Ministry to identify workplace safety trends, respond quickly to emerging risks and make better evidence-based decisions.
Nemani said the partnership marks an important step towards building safer, smarter and more resilient workplaces, adding that digital innovation will improve services while strengthening the protection and wellbeing of workers across Fiji.
The project is part of the Ministry’s broader commitment to creating a more responsive, transparent and worker-focused public service, while making it easier for businesses to meet workplace safety requirements…. PACNEWS
PACNEWS In Focus
The views expressed in PACNEWS are those of agencies contributing articles and do not necessarily those of PINA and/or PACNEWS
Polygyny weakens female voices in PNG
By Kingtau Mambon and Dorothy Kaupa
PORT MORESBY, 10 JULY 2026 (DEVPOLICY.ORG) — Earlier this year, Papua New Guinea’s Prime Minister James Marape proposed that polygynous marriage in the country be outlawed by 2030 to protect women. This will be a big shift in family structures and culture. In PNG, polygynous unions are not uncommon. While the majority of women, around 81.2 percent of women, are in monogamous unions, the other 18.8 percent are in polygynous unions. One of us, Mambon, showed in a previous article that polygyny, which was once practised mostly in certain regions, is now spreading across the country. In this article, we ask: do women in polygynous marriages have weaker voices than those in monogamous marriages?
Women’s empowerment or their voice is proxied using three standard decision-making variables. These variables are whether a woman has a say in: (1) decisions about her own health care, (2) large household purchases and (3) visits to immediate family and other relatives.
Before answering the question proposed above, we first investigated the broad trends in women’s empowerment in the country’s last national Demographic and Health Survey. We observed three. First, women’s participation in household decision-making increases with age, education and paid employment. Participation in all three decisions rises from 45.2 percent among women aged 15 to 19 to 67.9 percent among women aged 45 to 49. For education, women with no education have lower participation in all three decisions, at 55.3 percent, while women with higher education record 71.5 percent. In paid employment, women employed for cash have the highest participation in all three decisions, at 69.5 percent, compared with 59.3 percent among women who are not employed.
Second, empowerment strongly varies across residences, region and provinces. Urban women are rather more likely than rural women to participate in all three decisions, with 64.8 percent of urban women participating compared with 61.2 percent of rural women. Women in the Islands region record the highest participation in all three decisions, at 69.4 percent, while women in the Highlands record the lowest, at 55.1 percent. Provinces such as Madang, Gulf, East Sepik, Manus, New Ireland and East New Britain show relatively high levels of women’s participation in all three decisions. In contrast, Southern Highlands, Jiwaka and West New Britain record some of the lowest levels.
Third, household status matters, but empowerment is not determined by wealth alone. Women with more living children tend to report higher participation in decision-making. For example, women with no children report 52.7 percent participation in all three decisions, while women with five or more children report 65.2 percent. An implication is that greater household responsibility and status come with motherhood. However, women in the lowest wealth quintile report 61.6 percent participation in all three decisions, while women in the highest quintile also report 61.6 percent. Being in a wealthy household does not necessarily mean there are equal power dynamics between the couples.
We next compared women in monogamous and polygynous marriages to see how likely they were to have a say in the three decision-making areas. To do this, we analysed data from a nationally representative sample of 9,625 married women aged 15 to 49 from the most recent Demographic and Health Survey, using statistical methods that ensure the results reflect the broader population.
We estimated separate models for each of these decision-making variables as our outcome variables, including whether the woman participated in all three decisions. For these four outcome variables, the key explanatory variable was whether the woman was in a polygynous union. The models controlled for age, education, employment, number of living children, household wealth, rural-urban residence, region and acceptance of wife beating.
Our adjusted results show that the association between polygyny and a woman’s voice remains negative across all four outcomes, although the strength of the relationship differs by decision type. The estimated effect is small for own health care, at about 0.6 percentage points lower, and larger for large household purchases, at about 2.9 percentage points lower. The association is stronger for visits to relatives, where women in polygynous unions are about 3.2 percentage points less likely to have a say, and strongest for the combined measure: women in polygynous unions are about 5.2 percentage points less likely to participate in all three household decisions. While the estimates for own health care and large purchases are less precise, estimates for visits to relatives and all three decisions are statistically meaningful.
Our findings are consistent with international evidence, which shows that women in polygynous unions often report lower household decision-making autonomy. For instance, in Mauritania, Florence Anfaara and colleagues found that, after accounting for socio-economic and demographic factors, women in polygamous unions’ odds of participating in decisions about their own health and large household purchases were each 35 percent lower, while their odds of participating in decisions about visiting family or relatives were 28 percent lower compared to those in monogamous marriages.
In sum, marriage structure matters for women’s empowerment in PNG. Women in polygynous unions appear to have a weaker voice in household decision-making. Our estimates have shown that polygyny is a risk factor for women’s voice. And as shown by general trends, encouraging women to delay marriages, supporting them to complete their education and engaging them in paid work are potentially protective factors…. PACNEWS
Kingtau Mambon is an economics lecturer at the University of Papua New Guinea. He was awarded an ANU-UPNG Partnership Scholarship and completed a Master of International and Development Economics degree at the ANU Crawford School of Public Policy in 2023.
Dorothy Kaupa is an economics tutor at the University of Papua New Guinea.
PACNEWS DIGEST
The views expressed in PACNEWS are those of agencies contributing articles and do not necessarily those of PINA and/or PACNEWS
Emerging Pacific leaders tackling the Triple Planetary Crisis
PORT VILA, 10 JULY 2026 (SPREP) — In the Pacific, the triple planetary crisis, the interconnected threats of climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution pose a significant existential risk, and young Pacific people are disproportionately bearing the burden of the most severe impacts.
However, young Pacific people have led the charge in regional and global advocacy and activities, calling for strengthened policy and action to mobilise and develop solutions in response to the global crisis.
At the Pacific Innovation Forum on Climate and Environment (PIFCE) held in Port Vila, Vanuatu, from 1-3 July 2026, emerging Pacific leaders gathered to highlight their innovative solutions to address the interconnected crises.
Through a side event aligned to the PIFCE theme of ‘Wave Makers driving innovation’, panel members shared about their experiences in national, regional and global engagements from across the three spheres of climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution, and identified common challenges and opportunities for collaboration.
Rodrick Holness, from the Solomon Islands Climate Action Network (SICAN) and a member of the Pacific Islands Students Fighting Climate Change (PISFCC) who spearheaded the initiative at the United Nations International Court of Justice (ICJ) to define legal obligations around climate change spoke to the power of young Pacific people to drive change.
“Our young people are living through the realities of the triple planetary crisis. We have adapted, sought solutions and shown resilience in the face of the mounting challenges in our island homes.”
“With adequate support, capacity building, and genuine and meaningful engagement, young Pacific people have the power to bring about change.”
“This has been demonstrated through the many national and regional youth-led initiatives targeting climate change, biodiversity and waste management.”
“Additionally, Pacific youth have shown leadership on the global stage, where our voices have risen above the waves to be heard alongside those who shape the decisions that define our future.”
Chloé Wilson from the National University of Vanuatu shared about her work in building climate resilience through Nature-based Solutions to build resilient communities.
“Leadership starts from within; to approach the interconnected threats of the triple planetary crisis we should care about these issues. For pollution it starts with the small steps, how you dispose of your litter and manage your waste at home.”
“The same goes for the other issues, we must care about our local biodiversity and the impacts of climate change on us. When we have that, we can develop meaningful, context specific solutions that builds resilient communities. That’s where leadership starts.”
Speaking to his research on Waste-to-Energy Adoption at the University of Papua New Guinea, Freddy Lakera shared about the feasibility of waste-to-energy technologies and the development of a pilot biogas system that converts organic waste into clean energy.
Lakera’s work is a practical example of how innovative, locally driven solutions can contribute to addressing the waste dimension of the triple planetary crisis while also supporting clean energy, climate action, and sustainable development in the Pacific.
“I believe innovation, research, and collaboration are essential to building a more sustainable and resilient Pacific, and I am committed to bridging the gap between research, policy, and practical implementation to create lasting environmental and social impact for our communities”, he said.
Prior to the PIFCE, Wilson and Lakera also participated in the ClimateTech Hackathon, a platform for university students to develop and collaborate on innovative solutions to regional climate challenges that were pitched at the Forum.
SPREP Climate Change Resilience Programme Director, Tagaloa Cooper commended the panel members on their work, and she put a challenge to young Pacific people to work collaboratively across climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution.
“Sometimes we are tempted to remain within our own areas of our work, but I encourage you to remember that the different dimensions of this global crisis are deeply interconnected. A change in one sphere inevitably affects the others. Most importantly, these impacts are felt most strongly by the most vulnerable in our communities, elderly, women, young people and children.”
“As you strive to find that common ground, SPREP stands by ready to support and empower our young Pacific people working to build a resilient Pacific in the face of the countless challenges it faces today.”
The side event was co-hosted by SPREP, NBSAP Accelerator Partnership, United Nations Environment Programme and the Vanuatu Department of Environmental Protection and Conservation, and Rolenas Baelereo was the moderator.
The engagement of young Pacific people at PIFCE showed they are more than emerging leaders; they are the Pacific’s Wave Makers. As a new generation of innovators, their experiences and ideas have the power to create lasting ripples of change across the region and drive effective responses to the global triple planetary crisis…. PACNEWS
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The views expressed in PACNEWS are those of agencies contributing articles and do not necessarily those of PINA and/or PACNEWS
Building the Foundations for Nauru’s Next Chapter
YAREN, 10 JULY 2026 (UNDP) — Nauru is looking ahead.
Like many small island developing states, the country is balancing immediate development needs with longer-term priorities around climate resilience, economic opportunity, public services and the future of its young people.
Yet during a recent mission to the island, much of the conversation was focused not only on the challenges Nauru faces, but on what comes next.
Across meetings with government leaders, development partners and young people, discussions focused on Nauru’s priorities for the years ahead and the systems, institutions and partnerships needed to support them.
Led by UNDP Pacific Resident Representative, Munkhtuya Altangerel, the mission largely focused on Nauru’s Annual Programme Review and the launch of Phase II of the Nauru Accountable and Inclusive Governance (NAIG II) Project, providing an opportunity to reflect on progress while looking ahead to future priorities.
At first glance, governance might be seen separately from issues such as climate resilience, renewable energy, food security, or economic development. In practice, progress in each depends on robustness of the systems and institutions that can effectively plan, coordinate, deliver services and respond to changing needs.
Governance is not simply about legislation and law making, policies, or administrative processes. It is about ensuring that citizens can access services, participate in decision-making, and have confidence in the institutions that serve them. It is about creating the conditions that enable countries to respond to challenges and seize new opportunities.
The launch of NAIG II marks an important step in that journey.
Building on achievements made since 2021, the programme now supports five interconnected pillars: Parliament, Elections, Justice, Legal Identity, and Civil Society Engagement. Together, these institutions help strengthen accountability, improve access to services, support citizen participation, and build public trust.
For Nauru, this is about more than governance; it is about ensuring that public institutions are duly equipped to support the country’s evolving development priorities.
This broader vision was reflected in discussions with Acting President and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Shadlog Bernicke. Conversations focused on Nauru’s long-term development aspirations, including economic opportunities, climate resilience, and preparations for a future beyond traditional development assistance. As the country continues to evolve, effective institutions will play a critical role in supporting sustainable growth and service delivery.
The importance of strong systems and institutions also extends beyond government.
Meetings with development partners, highlighted the value of partnerships that align behind national priorities. While each partnership contributes in different ways, a common objective remains in supporting Nauru’s vision for sustainable and inclusive development.
Across discussions with the Department of Climate Change and National Resilience and the Department of Environmental Management and Agriculture, the conversation turned to another key priority: ensuring that resilience and economic development go hand in hand.
Climate resilience in Nauru is not solely about responding to environmental threats. It is about protecting livelihoods, strengthening food security, preserving natural resources, and creating opportunities for future growth.
A visit to Buada Lagoon brought many of these connections into focus.
As one of Nauru’s significant natural areas, the lagoon and its surrounding landscape highlight the importance of healthy ecosystems in a country where land and natural resources are under pressure. Soil health, biodiversity, food security and sustainable land management are not separate concerns; each has implications for community wellbeing and future development opportunities.
The country’s energy transition tells a similar story.
Through initiatives such as the SMARTEN project, Nauru is investing in cleaner and more reliable energy solutions, including renewable energy, electric mobility, and energy-efficient technologies. These investments help strengthen energy security, reduce reliance on imported fossil fuels, and support a more sustainable future.
Energy is also closely linked to wider development outcomes. Strong systems can support local economic activity, strengthen resilience to external shocks and improve wellbeing. Seen in this way, Nauru’s energy transition is not a standalone sectoral effort, but part of the country’s broader development journey.
The mission also provided an opportunity to meet with young leaders whose aspirations reflected both optimism and ambition. Conversations centred on leadership, skills development, employment opportunities, and the role young people will play in shaping Nauru’s future. Their perspectives served as a reminder that development is ultimately about people.
How will Nauru’s next chapter evolve depends on how effectively the country connects governance with service delivery, environmental stewardship with economic opportunity, cleaner energy with resilience and wellbeing, and national ambition with the aspirations of its people.
For a country whose story is so often told through the challenges it has faced, there is another story worth paying attention to which is one of a nation strengthening its foundations, exploring new possibilities and making deliberate choices about the future it wants to build…. PACNEWS
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The views expressed in PACNEWS are those of agencies contributing articles and do not necessarily those of PINA and/or PACNEWS
Nominations open for Pacific Meteorological Council Awards 2026
APIA, 10 JULY 2026 (SPREP) — The call for nominations for the Pacific Meteorological Council (PMC) Awards 2026 is officially open.
The Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP), as the PMC Secretariat, invites Members and partners to nominate those whose service has shaped weather, climate, hydrology, and related environmental services across our Blue Pacific.
The PMC Awards recognise and celebrate outstanding contributions to weather, climate, hydrology, and other related environmental services in the Pacific region.
They honour individuals, National Meteorological and Hydrological Services (NMHS) institutions, partner organisations, and development partners whose dedication over many years has strengthened these services, while inspiring the next generation of Pacific professionals working in these fields.
“We are pleased to be able to host the Pacific Met Council Awards for this year’s meeting, to recognise and pay tribute to those who have made significant contributions to their countries and our Pacific region as a whole,” said SPREP Director of Climate Science and Information Programme, Salesa Nihmei.
“These six categories seek to honour outstanding individuals, groups and organisations, in what is often an overlooked field until critical and emergency hydro-met services are required for life-saving information and action mobilisation. We look forward to awarding the well-deserved 2026 recipients of these awards in Tonga this September.”
First presented at the Fifth Pacific Meteorological Council Meeting (PMC-5) in Apia, Samoa, in 2019, the Awards paid tribute to pioneers, long-serving officers, institutions, and partners across the region.
This year’s Awards will build on that legacy, with awardees to be celebrated at a special PMC Awards Ceremony during the Eighth Pacific Meteorological Council Meeting (PMC-8) and the Fourth Pacific Ministerial Meeting on Meteorology (PMMM-4), to be held in Nuku’alofa, Kingdom of Tonga, from 10 to 16 September 2026.
Nominations are invited across six award categories:
Lifetime Award – recognising individuals whose immense and sustained contributions to the Pacific region, including those who have retired or passed on, have left a lasting legacy of mentorship and founding contributions.
Long Service Award – acknowledging individuals whose perseverance, leadership, and ongoing dedication over many years has moulded the development of weather, climate, hydrology, and related environmental services in the region.
National Development Award – recognising individuals or groups that have led significant development of their NMHS institutions, including institutional establishment, capacity building, and service delivery milestones.
Outstanding Individual / Group Contribution Award – honouring those whose exceptional service, leadership, and active engagement have driven the development of weather, climate, hydrology, and related environmental services in the region.
Innovation & Research Contribution Award – celebrating individuals or groups whose outstanding and innovative research has advanced weather, climate, hydrology, and related environmental services, including work on traditional knowledge, climate change, and adaptation.
Regional Contribution Award – recognising organisations, institutions, and partner agencies whose project support, technical assistance, and long-term investment have strengthened these services at the development of the National Meteorological Services.
Nominations are open from 10 July 2026 and will close on 10 August 2026.
Nominations may be submitted by PMC Members and partners using the online nomination form – https://www.pacificmet.net/form/pmc-8-awards-nomination-form …. PACNEWS
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The views expressed in PACNEWS are those of agencies contributing articles and do not necessarily those of PINA and/or PACNEWS
The Nurse Who Survived and Went Back to Fight
NUKU’ALOFA, 10 JULY 2026 (UNICEF) — “I wish I’d taken the HPV vaccine sooner, now I’m fighting cervical cancer. I don’t want any Tongan girl to face what I’m facing.” – Sela Tuitupou, Vaiola Hospital, Tonga
When Sela Tuitupou, a nurse with nearly twenty years of experience and a mother of three, was diagnosed with stage 1 cervical cancer in 2019, her life changed in an instant. At 37, she was no longer only a caregiver—she had become a patient, confronting a disease that remains a quiet but serious threat in Tonga.
Sela’s personal experience would later become central to a nationwide effort to increase HPV vaccination uptake. At a time when coverage remained low due to mistrust, misconceptions, and limited engagement, her story helped bridge the gap between health services and communities, contributing to a significant rise in vaccination across the country.
Her journey began with six months of treatment in India, far from her home, her children, and the community she had long served. The distance was not only geographical. Living through cancer revealed the full weight of the disease: fear, pain, and uncertainty about her children’s future. For someone who had counselled countless women on reproductive health, the experience was deeply personal.
When she returned home in early 2020, cancer-free, she faced a changed world, but also a renewed sense of purpose. By then, the HPV vaccine, which could have prevented her illness, was available in Tonga. Yet too many girls remained unprotected. By the end of 2023, only about 30 per cent of eligible girls across Tonga had been vaccinated, with coverage in Tongatapu closer to 20 per cent. The barriers ran deeper than logistics—mistrust following the COVID-19 pandemic, misconceptions about the vaccine’s effects, and a lack of personal connection to the messages being shared.
In response, UNICEF and the Ministry of Health introduced a more community-centred approach in September 2024. Nurses and doctors began going door to door across Tongatapu’s seventeen districts, listening to families, holding meetings in church halls late into the evening, and returning week after week to answer questions with empathy and facts.
Sela’s voice became central to these efforts. Wearing her blue nurse’s uniform, she spoke not just as a professional, but as a survivor, in a short film posted by the Ministry of Health in August 2025.
Her message resonated widely, reaching 76,000 views in a country of around 100,000 people. It sparked hundreds of comments and conversations across homes, churches, and online groups.
“Sela brought something to this programme that no training manual can produce. When a hesitant mother saw a reproductive health nurse who had lived through cervical cancer stand in front of her and say, ‘vaccinate your daughter,’ that conversation ended differently. She was the most credible voice we had in the community, and the coverage numbers in 2025 are, in no small part, her contribution.” — Sister Afu Tei, Head of Reproductive Health, Ministry of Health, Tonga
Alongside her advocacy, vaccine champions—including health workers, educators, faith leaders, and community figures—actively engaged families. They shared accurate information, addressed concerns, and fostered positive social norms. Churches wove prevention messages into prayers, and radio programmes carried discussions across the islands. Gradually, misconceptions began to shift, supported by Sela’s testimony:
“I have a daughter. I vaccinated her. I would do it again without hesitation. Because I know what this disease does—not from a textbook, but from my own life.”
A Behavioural and Social Determinants study helped refine outreach strategies, reinforcing the importance of trusted voices and community engagement. The results quickly became clear. In Tongatapu, vaccinations rose from 28 girls in the first 6 months to 565 within the same year. By December 2025, three island groups—Vava’u, Ha’apai, and ‘Eua—had surpassed the Ministry of Health’s 80 per cent target. National coverage reached 68 per cent, more than double the 2023 level, while Tongatapu rose to 52.7 per cent.
Today, Sela’s daughters, aged nineteen and twenty-three, are both vaccinated. Her message continues to resonate:
“I tell every mother I meet I have daughters. I vaccinated them. And I would do it again without a moment’s thought. Because I have seen what this disease does. Not in a textbook. In a mirror.”
As Dr Patelisio N Patelisio, Head of Health Promotion in Tonga, noted: “Sela represents what community-centred health looks like at its best—a professional who used her lived experience to close the distance between the health system and the families we were trying to reach. Her role was central to what we achieved.”
Cervical cancer is preventable, and Tonga is now closer to reaching its 80 per cent vaccination target. While the work continues, the shift is clear: trust has become the vaccine’s most powerful ally, and Sela’s second chance is helping protect a generation…. PACNEWS
